CLASSIC: I Modi: The Scandalous Erotic Blockbuster Banned By The Vatican
Summary
Ridiculous Historians explore the scandalous origins of *I Modi*, a 16th-century pornographic guide created by Giulio Romano and Marcantonio Raimondi. The episode details how these explicit prints, possibly painted in the Vatican out of spite, became Europe’s first porn blockbuster after being paired with Pietro Aretino’s raunchy sonnets. Despite the Church’s efforts to ban and destroy the work, it spread widely, leaving a lasting mark on art history.
Topics discussed
Intro, sponsors, and show housekeeping
Content warning and church hypocrisy intro
Public vs private popeness and stereotypes
Raphael, Agostino Chigi, and the art patron
Chigi's swinger parties and Vatican censorship
Giulio Romano and Marcantonio Raimondi
The 16 Postures and early pornography
Pietro Aretino and the scandalous book
Lost artworks and historical recreations
Reading bawdy sonnets and food metaphors
Porn vs pornography and final thoughts
Outro, listener stories, and credits
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